Insect Direct

Your onto it. It's well worth having a decent camera to document the little fella growing up that's for sure.

Congrats. I just hope you've done your research :lol:

frog talk :lol:

Yep but not having much success. Over 95% deformed (had to be culled) from what was produced last year

Silly frog http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkM8VFMbw3A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqBe3gd1WpA

most of the species in nz are to much of a pest in nature. overseas they predominantly use large cockroach species (not available here) that are unable to climb smooth surfaces. making them easier to contain.

possibly Mimpoeus opaculus. large nz native darkling beetle. http://soilbugs.massey.ac.nz/insecta.php I have tried to rare them but had no luck.

Good as. I should probably read the manual again though Then I just need to find more time to take some pics. Thats interesting phoenix - Ill keep an eye on this one as it must be due for a moult.

This Koura has developed a blue tinge to it ... Background of the tank is blue.

some 'breading stock' on there too :lol:

Thought it maybe. Steve is good to deal with

Most of the mealworms in NZ come from Biosuppliers (petshops even some on tm ) http://www.ak.planet.gen.nz/~bio/page3.html same bugs through middle man = slightly cheaper again http://www.lifestyleanimals.co.nz/catal ... 124034e18a

Cool. Bell frogs would be best at that temp - but given how big they get, you need robust plants. Whistlers seem to do best under 25C - stay relatively small, so you can have a few to liven up the tank (try avoid too many hiding places), and plants generally do well.

best to take the stones out if you havent already. then you can tell if the axie is passing anything, including stones. fish are known to nibble on the gills. best to separate them asap aswel. the gills do look terrible: could be poor water quality prohibiting the regeneration. I use to notice with my golden axies: if i didn't do atleast a weekly water change, the red frilly bits would fade considerably; if did 1-2 wcs a week, they would be vibrant red. That's with having either a sump or canister filter on the tank/s aswel.

not sure about carnivorous plants. whistlers are darn small when first morphed, i wouldnt put a venus fly trap in there anyway. branches should be ok exo terra should be fine for whistlers. can always go bigger later on. sphagnum is ok for a couple of months then rots and smells funky :lol: Live would be all good, providing growing conditions are suitable. i just put daltons propagating sand for substrate (big rocks under to make mounds or if want deeper substrate etc) then xmas moss ontop, as long as you mist every few days it grows a nice lawn.

i cant find the article i mentioned earlier. from memory was along the lines of when too hot they burrow. anyway cant find it so it doesnt exist this is interesting: http://www.nzfrogs.org/site/nzfrog/file ... llance.mp3 they can survive being frozen solid. can call at 2C in a blizzard: that's impressive. have only just started hearing the whistlers around here over the last couple of weeks, nothing at all over summer. I was starting to think they'd moved on.

almost a frost this morning. whistlers were chirping in the distance, a couple of hours ago. recall reading somewhere many moons ago, they brumate/go dormant in the heat of the summer, not winter. (i could be wrong, havent got time to check) is weird hearing frogs whistling on a frosty morning though i must admit mealworms ok, done trials. they just not the best. i feed crickets and mini-mealworms. mealworms every few months when i order them.

i know they survive outdoors and tolerate the cold amazingly well. but last year over winter i lost the majority of my whislters (indoors; coldest room in house), one by one; frogs looked healthy so had me a little baffled. trying to come up with a clue as to what was going on, it lead me to wondering why the frogs appeared to be sitting at the top of the exo terra setup, up near the fluro; surely its the warmest spot, but these frogs like the cold? hmm maybe they would bask if a little heat lamp was applied. outdoors: even in winter when the sun comes out, it is enough to warm a frog; aid in digestion and so on; something that maybe lacking in my setup ... put a 20watt desk lamp above the top of the setup in one corner. Sure enough frogs basking often and I havent noticed a dead one since. was hardly conclusive, just something i found interesting.

the fan is pretty pathetic (could do with a more powerful one), the bag just helps direct the hot air from up top down toward the bottom. without a bag it works ok, but doesnt disperse air as even; equating to more variation in temp between the levels/shelves. hope that makes sense

a few tuatara roaming on the raftas

too true, got to love thy neighbours :lol: tarantulas could work instead.

how about a bee hive? like coming through a tube in the wall into a glass (or part glass) tank ...

tree frog tank new recruits